Chandahandi, 17th Oct 2025: The demand for earthenware items is steadily declining, leaving the potter community struggling to sustain their livelihoods. Traditionally, potters used to earn a modest income by making and selling various clay products, while also preserving the ancestral craft passed down through generations.
However, in the modern era, with the growing popularity of steel, plastic, and electronic alternatives, the demand for clay products has sharply fallen. As a result, in villages like Mahara, Beheramunda, and Motigaon of Chandahandi block, the ancestral occupation of pottery is on the verge of extinction.
In the past, potters used to sell thousands of earthen lamps during Diwali, but now, that demand has dwindled drastically. Many potters are worried, as sales during Diwali no longer provide the income they used to.
Mahendra Pande from Beheramunda village shared that now he only receives occasional orders for lamps during religious festivals. Similarly, Tulsingh Pande mentioned that he used to go door-to-door selling earthenware but now finds it very difficult to sustain his family through this profession alone.
Adding to their woes, there is also a shortage of firewood required to bake the clay items. Moreover, there is no dedicated market available for selling these products.
Many voices from different circles have suggested that if the government steps in with proper support and encouragement, this traditional craft can be revived and sustained—otherwise, it may disappear entirely in the near future.
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